Wagon.



PATBNTED JAN. 9, 1906. H. L. FERRIS.

WAGON;

APPLICATION FILED r3313. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 809,912. PATENTED JAN. 9, 1906. H. L. FERRIS.

WAGON,

APPLICATION FILED FEB-23.1905.

S SHEETS-SHEET 2.

a bottom plan thereof.

TINTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY L. FERRIS, OF HARVARD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HUNT, HELM, FERRIS &COMPANY, OF HARVARD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

WAGON.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906.

Application filed February 23,1905. Serial No. 247,065.

To (LU 1117mm, it may conce n.-

Be it known that I, HENRY L. FERRIS, a citi- Zen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Harvard, in the county of McI-Ienry and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wagons,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in wagons;and its object is to provide a device of this class which shall havecertain advantages which will appear more fully and at large in thecourse of this specification.

To this end my invention consists in the novel features which are shownin the accompanying drawings as embodied in my preferred form ofconstruction.

In the aforesaid drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improvedwagon. Fig. 2 is Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. A is a longitudinalsection in the line 44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmental plan view ofthe hounds and the tongue. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the same,showing the parts in a different position. Fig. 7 is a perspective viewof the end of the front axle and the bracket thereon. Fig. 8 is a frontview, the hounds being cut away in the line 8 8 of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is adetail section in the line 9 9 of Fig. 1, and .Fig. 10 is a perspectiveview of the central bracket on the front axle and the end of the bracerunning to the same.

Referring to the drawings, A is a wagonbed having transverse stringers aa a (6 To the lower face of the stringer a is secured an upperturn-table member B, having a central depression .7) in its upper face.

B indicates a lower turn-table member which has a centralupwardly-extending boss Z), which passes through a central perforationin the upper turn-table member B. A head 0 on a king-bolt O rests in thedepression 5 in the upper turn-table member, the said kingbolt passingthrough the boss 5 and extending downward into a boss (Z on a bracket D,which is slipped over the front axle E.

To the lower face of the turn-table B is secured a downwardly-openchannel-iron F. In the said channel-iron is a brace G, the sameconsisting of a central portion g, two downwardly and outwardlyprojecting legs g, and two inwardly-turned ends In the channeliron isalso a second brace H, likewise consistmg of a central member it and twodownends of the legs come together and can be secured to brackets I onthe opposite ends of the axle E. These brackets, it will be seen, havetwo inner ears 2', adapted to receive the legs h and outer ears 2',adapted to receive the legs 9. The brackets I are split and providedwith ears 1?, which when brought together by rivets i hold the bracketsfirmly in place upon the axle. It will be seen that this constructionmakes a very rigid support for the wagon-body. In practice it is amatter of more or less difficulty to construct the braces of exactly theright length to insure their proper positioning in the brackets, and asa result the parts are first assembled, the brackets are then forcedinto the proper position and then clamped by setting the rivets.

Longitudinal swing of the axle with respect to the wagon -body isprevented by means of a brace J, the upper end of which is secured tothe beam (6 and the forward end of which is passed over and pivotallysecured to the boss (Z on the bracket D, heretofore referred to. Inorder to secure these parts together, the novel construction illustratedin Fig. 10 is adopted. In this construction the boss (Z is provided witha projecting lug d at its upper edge, under which the flattened end onthe brace J can be passed. Thereupon the brace can be swung intoposition, passing down over a beveled surface (Z on the boss opposite tothe lug d. When the brace is in this position, it will be obvious thatit can only be removed by swinging it back through the same are which ittraversed in being placed in position, and such a swing is in practiceimpossible, as the upper end of the brace has been secured to thewagonbed. In this way a perfectly positioned swivel-joint is providedwhich can be assembled without machine-work of any kind and which isincapable of accidental separation in use.

The hounds L of my improved wagon are pivotally secured to the frontaxle E, the said hounds being made in the form of a single V-shapedcasting having a transverse brace Z near the forward end andforwardly-projecting legs libetween which is pivoted a socket M, whichreceives a tongue h A chain l limits the downward movement of thehounds, so

that they are free to swing from the position shown in solid lines inFig. 4 to the position shown in the dotted lines in the same figure.When the wagon is drawn by the tongue, the hounds occupy their lowerposition and merely a pulling strain is exerted on the axletherethrough, such lateral strain as takes place being more in thenature of a pull than a twist. When, however, the wagon is used as acoasting-wagon, the hounds swing up to the position shown in dottedlines in Fig 4: and the tongue swings back as illustrated, and it thenbecomes necessary to have some device for preventing relative rotationbetween the hounds and tongue and consequent lost motion in steering.This is' accomplished by means of a lug m, which engages a notch Z* inthe brace Z, thus locking the tongue and hounds together and absolutelypreventing any lost motion which might otherwise occur.

The rear axle N of the wagon is secured to the rear stringer a bybracesn a, similar to the bracesGH, the ends of said braces beingsecured to brackets n on the rear axle. Longitudinal motion of the axleis preventedby angle-iron braces 02 secured to the stringers a andrunning down over two ears n on the brackets n Outside the brackets n Iare wheels 0. A shaft P is passed through the vertical flanges of theangle-iron braces 92 and carries on its ends two levers P P each havingan end adapted to be brought into contact with the tire of the adjacentwheel to serve as a brake when the shaft P is rotated, the lever P beingprovided with an upwardlyextending handle 19, which can be grasped toset the brakes by hand. An arm 19 extends upward from the shaft P nearits center, the same being connected by a suitable link 9 to alongitudinally-movable cross-bar Q, which is guided under yokes q,secured to the wagonbed. The ends of this cross-bar project from thesides of the wagon-bed in position to be engaged by the feet of the userand the brake can be set thereby. It will be seen that when either endof this cross-bar is pushed forward the opposite yoke will serve as afulcrum, so that the brake can be set by pushing either end of the baror both ends, as desired.

I realize that considerable variation is possible in the details of thisconstruction without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I donot, therefore, intend to limit myself to the specific form herein shownand described. ,7

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a device ofthe class described, the combination with a wagon-bed, of an axleswiveled thereto, hounds secured to the axle, a tongue pivoted to thehounds and devices on the hounds and handle which engage when the handleis swung up to prevent relative lateral movement.

2. In a device of the class described the combination with a wagon-bed,of an axle swiveled thereto, hounds secured to the axle, a tonguepivoted to the hounds to swing vertically and means constructed andarranged to engage the tongue when swung up to prevent its lateralmovement.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a wagon-bed,of an axle swiveled thereto, hounds secured to the axle, a tonguepivoted to the hounds, mutually engaging portions on the tongue andhounds above the pivot, said engaging portions being constructed andarranged to engage when the tongue is swung up to prevent its lateralmovement.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a wagon-bed,of an axle swiveled thereto, hounds secured to the axle, a tonguepivoted to the hounds, a notch on one of said parts and a lug ontheother, said notch and lug being constructed and arranged to engage whenthe tongue is swung up to prevent relative lateral movement of thetongue and hounds.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a wagon-bed,of an axle swiveled thereto, hounds secured to the axle, a tonguepivoted to the hounds, a notch on the hounds, and a lug on the tongueengaging therewith to preventlateral movement between the tongue andhounds when the tongue is swung back.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a wagon-bedand an axle swiveled there-to,of hounds pivoted to the axle, means forlimiting the downward movement of the hounds, a tongue pivoted to thehounds, and means independent of the pivot for preventing relativelateral movement between the tongue and hounds when the tongue is swungup.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a wagon-bedand an axle swiveled thereto, of hounds in the form of a V-shapedcasting secured to the axle, projecting ends on the legs of saidcasting, a tongue pivoted between said projecting arms, a notchedcross-bar behind said arms, a lug on the tongue engaging with the notchin the cross-bar when the tongue is swung back.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a wagon-bedand an axle swiveled thereto, of hounds in the form of a V-shapedcasting pivoted to the axle, project- I ing ends on the legs of saidcasting, a tongue pivoted between said projecting ends, a notchedcross-bar behind said ends, a lug on the tongue engaging with the notchin the cross-bar when the tongue is swung back, and means for limitingthe downward movement of the hounds.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination with a wagon-bedand turn-table, of an arch secured to the turn-table, an axle secured tothe arch, a bracket on the center of the axle having anupwardly-projecting boss, a king-bolt entering said boss, a projectinglug on one side of said boss, and an oppositely-inclined edge on theother, and a brace surrounding said boss and secured at the opposite endto the wagon-bed, said brace being adapted to be first placed under saidlug and swung down over said inclined edge, and when so positioned to beincapable of vertical removal, except upon angular movement.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with a wagon-bedand turn-table, of a downwardly-open channel-iron secured to theturn-table, a brace having a central portion lying in said channel-ironand having two downwardly and outwardly extending legs, a second bracehaving a central portion lying in said channel-iron below said firstbrace and having downwardly and outwardly extending legs of less slantthan the legs on said first brace, an axle, and brackets on the axle towhich the adjacent ends of the braces are secured.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination with a wagon-bedand turn-table, of a downwardly-open channel-iron secured to theturn-table, a brace having a central portion lying in said channel-iron,and having two downwardly and outwardly extending legs, a second bracehaving a central portion lying in said channel-iron below said firstbrace and having downwardly and outwardly extending legs of less slantthan the legs on said first brace, an axle, and brackets on the axle towhich the adjacent ends of the braces are secured, said brackets beingsplit and secured on said axle by clamping means.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with awagon-bed, of a brace having a central portion and two downwardly andoutwardly extending legs, a second brace having a central portion lyingbelow the central portion of the first-named brace, and downwardly andoutwardly extending legs of less slant than the legs on the first-namedbrace, an axle, and brackets on the axle to which the adjacent ends ofthe legs are secured, said brackets being split and secured on the axleby clamping means.

13. The combination with a wagon-bed and a turn-table, of an archsecured to the turntable and an axle secured to the arch, a bracket onthe center of the axle having an upwardlyprojecting boss, a king-boltentering said boss and a bracket secured to the wagon-bed andsurrounding said boss, said bracket being adapted to pass freely oversaid boss when in an abnormal position and to be rigidly secured to saidboss when in its normal position.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination with the frontaxle of a wagon, of a pair of hounds pivotally secured to the axle, anda tongue pivotally secured to the hounds, whereby when the tongue isswung back its pivot upon the hounds will rise.

15. The combination with the front axle of a wagon, of a pair of houndspivotally secured thereto and of sufficient length to reach when swungup substantially to the level of the wagon-bed, and a tongue pivotallysecured to the end of said hounds.

In witness whereof I have signed the above application for LettersPatent, at Harvard, in the county of McHenry and State of Illinois, this16th day of February, A. D. 1905.

HENRY L. FERRIS.

\Vitnesses:

BLAKE B. BELL, (1F. REYNOLDS.

